Label-affixer.



Patented Aug. 26, 1902 No. 707,78i.

a. E. HuwAnn. LABEL AFFlXER.

(Application led Mar. 31, 1902.3

(No Model.)

YH: Nonm VETRS co., PHOTO-mmc., msnmcrou. n. c.

Nirnn drains Parent Critics.

GEORGE E. HOWARD, OF IVASIIINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LABEL-AFFIXEFL SPECIFICATXON forming part of letters Patent No. 707,781, dated August 26, 1902. Application filed March 31,1902. Serial No. 100,767, (No model.)

'.fo all whom it may ccm/067%:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Label-Affixers, of which the following is a specification,

My invention relates to an improvement in label-affixers, and it is particularly applicable to the use of attaching a dissoluble label which I have myself devised for labeling Government-inspected meats; and the nature of the invention is the provision of a receptacle adapted to contain a quantity of these labels and provided with a handle by which the aftiXing device,with its complement of labels, is manipulated so as to leave one label at a time attached to the surface to be labeled, and means for creating a force feed of the labels commensurate or approximately commensurate with the space left by the removal of each label; and the preferred development of this particular invention contemplates the use of a receptacle in which the labels are contained, having one open face for the easy removal of a single label at a time in connection with a follower and a screw or screws for forcing the follower forward upon or back of the labels to furnish the required back pressure thereupon and compensate for the space left by the removal of the labels, and this feed mechanism is preferably located within easy reach of the thumb or forenger of the operator while his hand is upon the handle or, in other words, without the necessity of removing his hand from the handle.

My invention still further Vconsists in other modifications and specilic details, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l isv a view in perspective of my improved and preferred form of construction. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a ineditication in which a spring is used in addition to the other features of the invention. Fig. 1 is a modified form embodying the screw and spring, but in lieu of one screw employing several, or one at each corner; and Fig. 5 is a modified form in which the milled head is modified into a handle.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the label-receptacle A is in the general form of a hollow cube, although of course I have no intention of limiting` myself to the precise dimensions. In size this is adapted to receive a package of labels-say two hundred and fifty, as they are generally put up in this number. One side opens, as shown, and is provided with a door 1, hinged at one edge to an edge of the receptacle A and provided at its other edge with a catch 3 to hold it in a closed or locked position. T he purpose of this door is to admit of the insertion of a package of labels therein. through which the labels are fed is open, as indicated by the numeral Il, and the lips 5 5 project inwardly from opposite sides of the receptacle to form a support for the labels and assist in holding them in place until applied to the surface to be labeled, when they readily permit the labels to be pulled from beneath them by the adhesion of the exposed portion of the label to the surface to be labeled, which force is greater' than that which retains the labels in the receptacle. The labels are held against the lips and fed forwardly by a follower G, which approximately fits the interior walls of the receptacle or, in other words, conforms substantially to the shape and dimensions of the labels. A screw 7 is swiveled in the follower atits lower end and turns in a threaded hole S in the top of the receptacle. On the outer end of this screw awheel or nut 9 is secured. This maybe milled at the edge or have spokes,.if desired, to facilitate its turning or manipulation. A handle 10 extends from one side of the receptacle or in a plane parallel with the open face of the receptacle, and the relative arrangement of the handle and thumb-nut or wheel is such that the latter may be operated by the thumb or forefinger of the operator while retaining his hand upon the handle.

In this form of construct-ion it will be 0bserved that the labels are applied by a swinging motion of the device after the manner of using a hammer, and, if desired, with each swing of the device the screw may be turned forward a sufficient distance to take up the space left by the label removed, so that an equal force-feed pressure is applied to all thc labels from first to last sufficient to cause The side out IOO them to adhere as fast as they are applied to the moist surface of the beef or other meat inspected or other object to be labeled, and with a little practice the operator becomes accustomed to this adjustment of the feed, s0 that he regulates it with comparative ease and accuracy. If desired, instead of turning the screw with each application of a label a few labels may be applied and then the screw may be turned, and so alternately. The lips 5 5 may either be straight or scalloped or indented accordingly as desired or as is found best for the purpose. To refill, the screw is reversed until the follower has reached its limit of movement, when a new package of labels is placed in the receptacle and clamped between the follower andlips as before,when the device is capable of operation as above described.

Various modifications might be made, and I have shown three different forms, which I will now proceed to describe. The first is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which form a second follower 12 is employed and a spiral spring 13 is interposed between the two followers. Otherwise this form is to all intents and purposes the same as the one previously described.

In Fig. 4 in lieu of asingle feed-screw four stationary threaded posts project outwardly from as manypoints on the device and aplate 14 is mounted on them. Between the plate 14 and the follower a spring 16 is interposed and thumb-nuts 17 17 on the post are employed for feeding the follower. In other respects this form is virtually the same as the others.

4In the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 the handle is in reality attached to the screw,or, in other words, the thumb-nut or wheel is modified into the form of a handle, so that to feed the follower forward the operator turns the handle from time to time. In allof these forms the pressure is directly upon the top of the receptacle or transmitted from the follower through the screw to the top. The last form is the only exception to this rule, and in that form it is taken from the top and is upon the operators hand directly through the handle.

In addition to the several modifications described other slight ones might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise constructions herein set forth; but,

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a receptacle having an open face for the discharge of its contents, and lips projecting inwardly from opposite sides or edges of the opening, of a follower, a screw turning in threads in the side of the receptacle opposite the open face and swiveled in the follower, a thumb-nut or wheel on the screw by which to turn it and a handle by which the entire device is moved in the operation of labeling.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an open face for the discharge of its contents, and lips projecting inwardly from opposite sides or edges of theopening', of a follower, a screw turning in threads in the side of the receptacle opposite the open face and swiveled in the follower, means whereby to turn the screw, and a handle extending in a direction parallel with the open face of the receptacle by means of which the receptacle is swung bodily in the operation of applying a label.

3. A label-aflixing device consisting of a receptacle having an open face and lips projecting inwardly from opposite sides thereof, a pair of followers, a spring interposed between said followers,- and a screw-feed for the outer follower and a handle extending laterally from the receptacle whereby the device is wielded in the operation of applying alabel.

4. The combination with a receptacle adapted to contain labels, said receptacle having one open face, the other faces all being closed, a handle connected with the box or receptacle by which the latter is lifted and swung bodily in the operation of applying a label, a follower, a screw connected therewith and extending through a hole in one of the closed' sides of the box or receptacle, and means for feeding the screw inward or outward through the hole whereby to move and control the position of the follower.

5. Thecombinationwithareceptacle adapted to contain labels, said receptacle having one open face, the other faces all being closed, a handle connected with the box or receptacle by which the latter is lifted and swung bodily in the operation of applying allabel, a follower, a screw connected therewith and extending through a hole in one of the closed sides of the box or receptacle, and means for feeding the screw inward or outward through the hole whereby to move and control the position of the follower, the screw and follower permanently retained in the box or receptacle.

6. The combination with a receptacle adapted to contain labels, said receptacle having one open face, the other faces all being closed, a handle connected with the box or receptacle by which the latter is lifted and swung bodily in the operation of applying a label, a follower, a screw connected therewith and extending through a hole in one of the closed sides of the box or receptacle, and a nut through which the screw turns for feeding the screw inward or outward through the hole whereby to move and control the position of the follower.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. E. HOWARD. lVitnesses:

FRANK E. NEWTON, VERNON E. HoDGEs.

IOO

IIO 

